Bearing Our Burdens with Hope

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Being happy does not always mean being without hardship. Sometimes it means just the opposite. That principle is brought to life in this story of a young husband who is only able to make it home safely after his load grows much heavier.

Elder David A. Bednar told the story in his general conference address “Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease.” A man became stranded in the mountains when his truck got stuck in the snow. It was only after he filled the truck bed with wood that he was able to escape.

“It was the load of wood that provided the traction necessary for him to get out of the snow, to get back on the road, and to move forward,” Elder Bednar explains.

When we face large or small challenges in life, we can take comfort in the truth that such experiences will build our strength and bring us closer to God.

“Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness,” Elder Bednar says.

It's going to be fine. We need firewood. I'm going to test out the truck. I'll be back before sunset.

Lucky for you, I made you a sandwich. Go get your firewood.

Thank you.

Go on.

We're getting close.

[DOG BARKING]

Yeah, you remember this? Hey, this is it.

[WHEELS SPINNING]

[WHEELS SPINNING]

Shiloh, what's happened?

[REVS ENGINE]

[WHEELS SPINNING]

You've got to be kidding me. We are not stuck. All right, let's try this again.

[REVS ENGINE]

[WHEELS SPINNING]

[WHEELS SPINNING]

Come on.

[REVS ENGINE]

[WHEELS SPINNING]

[DOG BARKING]

Dear Heavenly Father, I need help. Please send somebody who can help me get out of here. In Jesus's name, amen.

Let's go, Shiloh. I need you on the road so they'll know we're here. Come on, let's go. I'm going to go get the wood. Stay.

[REVS CHAINSAW]

[REVS CHAINSAW]

[REVS CHAINSAW]

[REVS CHAINSAW]

[REVS CHAINSAW]

Good boy. You did great. Did you see any cars? No? Ah, good boy.

[COYOTES HOWLING IN THE DISTANCE]

Nobody came. Buddy.

[DOG WHIMPERS]

Heavenly Father, I've done everything I know to do. I thought You'd send somebody. Please just help us get home.

[COYOTES HOWLING IN THE DISTANCE]

Come on, please.

[REVS ENGINE]

Please, come on. Come on, move! Move! Yeah!

Thank You.

It was the load of wood that provided the traction necessary for him to get out of the snow, to get back on the road, and to move forward. Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness.

Each of us also carries a load. Our individual load is comprised of demands and opportunities. "Is the load I am carrying producing the spiritual traction that will enable me to press forward with faith in Christ on the strait and narrow path? Is the load I am carrying creating sufficient spiritual traction so I ultimately can return home to Heavenly Father?"

As we are yoked with Him through sacred covenants and receive the enabling power of His Atonement in our lives, we will be blessed with spiritual traction.